Uttarakhand BJP minister Ganesh Joshi becomes crorepati, charges of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known income
Another BJP legislator sparks strike in Dehradun Municipal Corporation by abusing commissioner, door to door garbage disposal affected
Uttarakhand BJP minister Ganesh Joshi becomes crorepati, charges of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known income
Another BJP legislator sparks strike in Dehradun Municipal Corporation by abusing commissioner, door to door garbage disposal affected
Severe SC reprimand for Harak Singh as forest Minister of BJP govt. for causing damage to environment
S.M.A.KAZMI
Dehradun, March 6
The ruling Uttarakhand government of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) riding high on the plank of Hindutva, targeting Muslims and nationalism, suffered a severe jolt on March 5, when one of its’ cabinet minister was accused of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income while another party legislator was seen publicly abusing Dehradun municipal commissioner for not granting his son a contract sparking a strike by entire municipal staff leading to stoppage of entire garbage disposal system in Dehradun city for the past two days.
Interestingly, the Apex Court slammed former Uttarakhand forest minister Harak Singh Rawat and divisional forest officer (DFO) Kishan Chand for “causing heavy damage to the environment for some political and commercial gains” over illegal construction and felling of trees at the Jim Corbett National Park during the tenure of BJP state government led by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. The Supreme Court’s strong observation came over a petition filed by environment activist and lawyer Gaurav Bansal, who challenged the Uttarakhand government’s proposal to build a tiger safari at the Jim Corbett National Park.
Harak Singh had rejoined the Congress after quitting BJP on the eve of state assembly elections in 2022 hoping that Congress would form the next government. However, the party got convincingly beaten and BJP again formed the government. Harak Singh Rawat is facing probe in various alleged corrupt deals by Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.
However, in state capital Dehradun, it has been Ganesh Joshi, a controversial Uttarakhand BJP cabinet minister who has again hit the headlines. Vikash Negi, an advocate and RTI activist has approached vigilance department to take action against the minister for amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. On the basis of affidavits filed by the minister for election purposes,
Vikash Negi charged that Ganesh Joshi during past 15 years working as a minister has become a crorepati having atleast ten plots and factories in Dehradun and Haridwar. He further alleged that Ganesh Joshi as a legislator and minister got a total of Rs.36 lakhs as pay but in his affidavit filed during 2022 state assembly elections, he has declared his wealth worth rs. nine crores. The whistle blower Vikash Negi in his representation said that Ganesh Joshi bought property worth Rs.15.60 lakh in 2011, Rs 44. 61 lakh in 2012, Rs.13.11 lakh in 2015, Rs.30.33 lakh in 2016, Rs.3.40lakh in 2017, Rs.36.74 lakh in 2018, Rs.51.94 lakh in 2019, Rs.73.10 lakh in 2020, Rs.63.72 lakh in 2021 and Rs.1.46 crore in 2022 in the names of his son, daughter and wife. Hisson and daughter were totally dependent on him during the period. He bought properties worth Rs.5.8 crore which was much above his known source of income. Vikash Negi has also written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a probe in the matter.
Ganesh Joshi a senior BJP leader and legislator from Mussoorie assembly segment was allegedly involved and charged in the injury and subsequent death of a police horse ‘Shaktiman’ during a clash with police during a party demonstration in 2016. He was later acquitted by a local court for want of sufficient evidence in 2021. Reacting on the allegations of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known source of income, Ganesh Joshi brushed these allegations as ‘politically motivated’.
On March 5, Mahesh Jeena, a BJP legislator from Salt assembly segment of Kumoan region barged into the office of Dehradun Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Kumar, IAS and allegedly started abusing him for not giving a contract of treatment of a trenching ground at Sahastradhara road in Dehradun to his son. He threatened the officer which led to widespread resentment amongst the employees who went on strike demanding arrest of the ruling party legislator for his behaviour. The Municipal employees stopped the house to house garbage collection work in the entire city leading to a crisis. Opposition parties including CPI,CPM,AAP and Congress condemned the behaviour of BJP legislator and extended their support to the strike by municipal corporation employees. A case against Mahesh Jeena and four others under sections 147, 186, 504,506, IPC was registered at Kotwali,Dehradun, today evening.
